Mounting apparatus for fans

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus includes a bracket, two shafts, and a number of shield plates. The bracket includes a fixing plate defining a number of horizontally arranged vents, for mounting a number of fans to a rear side of the fixing plate, with each vent aligning with one of the fans. The shafts are respectively and horizontally mounted to a top and a middle of a front side of the bracket. Each shield plate includes a main plate and a substantially C-shaped pivot portion formed on a top of the main plate. The pivot portions of the shield plates are rotatably placed around the shafts. The shield plates hang vertically under the corresponding shafts by gravity. Each of the vents is covered by two vertically aligned shield plates upon a condition that the gravity of the two shield plates is not overcome by airflow through the vents.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for mounting multiple fans.

2. Description of Related Art

In an electronic device, fans are mounted to a bracket for dissipating heat for electronic components in the electronic device. However, when a fan is broken or not mounted, air pressure in the electronic device changes, which will cause turbulence and air to back flow, thus adversely influencing heat dissipation from the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a first embodiment of a mounting apparatus together with a plurality of fans.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, isometric view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, isometric view a circled portion III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, isometric view of a shaft of a second embodiment of a mounting apparatus for fans.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a mounting apparatus for a plurality of fans 20. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket 10, two plastic shafts 30, and eight shield plates 40.

Each fan 20 includes two opposite side plates 21. Four fixing holes 213 are defined in four corners of each side plate 21.

The bracket 10 includes an elongated base 12, and a substantially rectangular fixing plate 14 extending upwards from a rear side of the base 12 in a substantially perpendicular manner Four vents 141 are defined in the fixing plate 14, arranged in a horizontal direction. Four through holes 143 are defined in the fixing plate 14 around each vent 141. Two first connecting portions 145 protrude forward from the tops of opposite ends of the fixing plate 14. A first slot 146 is defined in each first connecting portion 145. Two second connecting portions 147 protrude forward from the midpoints of the opposite ends of the fixing plate 14. A second slot 148 is defined in each second connecting portion 147.

Two flanges 31 protrude from a circumference of each shaft 30, respectively adjacent two opposite ends of the shaft 30.

Each shield plate 40 includes a substantially rectangular main plate 41, and a plurality of spaced substantially C-shaped coaxial pivot portions 43 formed on the top of the main plate 41. Each pivot portion 43 defines an opening 431, and the openings 431 of the plurality of pivot portions 43 face a same direction.

To assemble a fan 20 to the mounting apparatus, one of the side plates 21 abuts the rear side of the fixing plate 14, to allow the fixing holes 213 of the side plate 21 to align with the four through holes 143 around one of the vents 141. Four fasteners, such as screws, are extended through the through holes 143 and engaged in the fixing holes 213. Thereby, the fan 20 is fastened to the fixing plate 14, aligning with the vent 141.

According to heat dissipation demands, four fans 20 can be mounted to the fixing plate 14, to allow each of the vents 141 to align with a fan 20, or less than four fans 20 can be mounted to the fixing plate 14, to allow some of the vents 141 to each align with a fan 20.

The shafts 30 are deformed and then released, to allow opposite ends of one of the shafts 30 to respectively engage in the first slots 146, with the flanges 31 of the shaft 30 abutting against the inner sides of the first connecting portions 145; and to allow opposite ends of the other shaft 30 to respectively engage in the second slots 148, with the flanges 31 of the other shaft 30 abutting against the inner sides of the second connecting portions 147. Thereby, the shafts 30 are respectively and horizontally mounted to the top and the middle of the fixing plate 14.

Four shield plates 40 are rotatably connected to each shaft 30 end to end. To assemble each shield plate 40, the openings 431 are aligned with the corresponding shaft 30. The pivot portions 43 are pressed towards the shaft 30. The pivot portions 43 are deformed, and the openings 431 are splayed to allow the shaft 30 to be received in the pivot portions 43. The pivot portions 43 and the openings 431 are then restored, to prevent the shield plate 40 from disengaging from the shaft 30 when the shield plate 40 is rotated. The shield plates 40 hang vertically under the corresponding shafts 30 by gravity, allowing each vent 141 to be covered by two vertically aligned shield plates 40.

When the fans 20 operate, airflow from the fans 20 passes through the corresponding vents 141 and is blown towards the shield plates 40 right ahead of the fans 20. The shield plates 40 rotate forward 90 degrees around the corresponding shafts 30, to allow the airflow produced by the fans 20 to pass through.

Before a replacement of a broken fan 20 is completed, the shield plates 40 right in front of the broken fan 20 vertically cover the corresponding vent 141 by means of gravity. Air pressure at the vertical shield plates 40 will not change substantially, so the vertical shield plates 40 can prevent air from flowing back towards the broken fan 20.

When the rear side of a vent 141 is empty, the shield plates 40 right in front of the vent 141 vertically cover the vent 141 by means of gravity, which will prevent air from flowing back towards the vent 141.

FIG. 4 shows a metal shaft 50 of a second embodiment of a mounting apparatus for fans. The shafts 30 of the first embodiment are replaced by two shafts 50. The shafts 50 respectively extend through the first slot 146 and the second slot 148 of one end of the fixing plate 14, and then extend through the first slots 146 and the second slot 148 of the other end of the fixing plate 14. The portions of the shafts 50 adjacent to the inner sides of the first and second connecting portions 145 and 147 are deformed to form protrusions 51, to allow the protrusions 51 to respectively abut against the inner sides of the first and second connecting portions 145 and 147.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and the functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting apparatus for a plurality of fans, comprising: a bracket comprising a fixing plate defining a plurality of horizontally arranged vents, for mounting the plurality of fans to a rear side of the fixing plate, with each vent to be aligning with one of the fans; two shafts respectively and horizontally mounted to a top and a middle of a front side of the bracket; and a plurality of shield plates rotatably connected to the shafts, wherein each shield plate comprises a main plate and at least one substantially C-shaped pivot portion formed on a top of the main plate, the pivot portions of the plurality of shield plates are rotatably placed around the corresponding shafts, the shield plates hang vertically under the corresponding shafts by gravity, each of the vents is covered by two of the vertically aligned shield plates upon a condition that the gravity of the two shield plates is not overcome by airflows passing through the vents.
 2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein two first connecting portions protrude forward from tops of opposite ends of the fixing plate, opposite ends of one of the shafts are respectively fixed to the first connecting portions, two second connecting portions protrude forward from midpoints of the opposite ends of the fixing plate, opposite ends of the other shaft are respectively fixed to the second connecting portions.
 3. The mounting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shafts are made of plastic, two flanges protrude from a circumference of each shaft, respectively adjacent two opposite ends of the shaft, each first connecting portion defines a first slot, and each second connecting portion defines a second slot, the opposite ends of said one of the shafts are respectively extended through the first slots, with the flanges of the shaft abutting against inner sides of the first connecting portions, and the opposite ends of the other shaft are respectively extended through the second slots, with the flanges of the other shaft abutting against inner sides of the second connecting portions.
 4. The mounting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shafts are made of metal, the shafts respectively extend through the first slot and the second slot of one end of the fixing plate, and then extend through the first slot and the second slot of the other end of the fixing plate, portions of the shafts adjacent to inner sides of the first and second connecting portions are deformed to form protrusions, to allow the protrusions to respectively abut against the inner sides of the first and second connecting portions.
 5. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one pivot portion of each shield plate is more than one, the pivot portions of each shield plate are coaxial, each pivot portion defines an opening, the openings of each shield plate face a same direction. 